You answer prayer, desiring an ever growing relationship with us.
Who are we that you mindful to our experiences and needs?

You forgive our sins and draw us near, close to your heart and holiness.

You deliver us from slavery to sin and death and self.
You make a way for us in the wilderness of this life,
a way that leads us home to you.
You are with us and we are with you, now and forever.
Hallelujah!

You are the light and the hope of us all.

You are mighty. You are strong.
You are awesome. You are glorious.
You are worthy of every and all praise.

You provide from the richness of your love- far beyond water and food.
Your saving bounty for all- such wonder, such blessing!
Hallelujah!

We join creation in song and celebration of your eternal goodness
Hallelujah!

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Almighty God,
Most powerful, most near, most good
I surrender my worries to you
My overthinking, my foreboding, my dis-ease
I ask, you supply
I reveal my angst, my weakness, my reality
You bring goodness and mercy all the days of my life

Thank you for your steadfast love
You are Faithful Forever
Thank you for your saving power
You are Resurrection and Life
Thank you for grace upon grace

Focus my attention and hope on your goodness:
Your truth, your honor, your justice
All are at work in your world

Focus my attention and hope on your goodness:
Your purity, your delight, your commending
All are at work in your world

Focus my attention and hope on your goodness:
Your excellence, your praise
All are it work in your world
All are at work in me, my situation, this very moment

Focus my attention, my power, my resources
To keep doing all you show me to be right
All I am learning and receiving and hearing and seeing in Jesus

Focus me on your promises that I may persevere
That I may grow in resilience and hope
That I may stay true no matter the season or situation
That I may be effective in bearing your grace and peace
And in bringing honor and glory to your name. Amen.

Growing in Resilience
Based on Isaiah 58
Bonus Reflection: We Will Rise
based on Isaiah 58:11-12, NRSV

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

We will rise
From the destruction
From the ruins
From the sin and isolation

We will rise
Building strong foundations
Bridging the breach
Making a way, a highway to our God

We will rise in our ceasing
A holy fast of God’s desiring and design

Fasting from injustice
Letting loose the bonds
Breaking every yoke of oppression and affliction

Fasting from food and space and clothing
Simplicity and sacrifice so others may have enough

Fasting from busyness
Reclaim the good gifts of relationship and sabbath

Fasting from evil speech
Blaming, gossiping, demonizing, lying
Truth will be on our tongue
Life will be on our lips

We will rise for this is the way of the Risen One
The bones of the Body will be strong
The branches of the Vine will be well watered
The ruins will be rebuilt with living stones
We will rise!

Growing in Resilience
Based on Isaiah 55
Bonus Reflection: Glory to You, based on Isaiah 55:6-9, NRSV

Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Glory To You, O Lord Most High!
You await us with mercy
Mercy and abundant pardon
You are near
You are found

You send out your Word and it returns to you
Powerful
Effective
Creative
A harvest of salvation and goodness

You send out your Word and it fulfills your desire
Joy and Peace for us and all creation

Growing in Resilience
Based on Isaiah 55
Bonus Reflection: You Call, based on Isaiah 55:1-2, NRSV

Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

Growing in Resilience
Day 26, Read Isaiah 65
Reflection: Turn and Return based on Isaiah 65:1-5a, The Voice

Eternal One: I was ready and willing to help before anyone even asked. I was found by people who did not seek Me; I showed My face and said, “Here I am! I am right here!” to a nation which did not call on Me.

I kept extending Myself to a people who don’t care a whit. All day long I opened my hands to those who constantly work against Me, those busy pursuing their own rotten path, inspired by their own rotten schemes.

These people continue to insult Me, right to My face, pursuing other gods, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on altars made of bricks. They sit among the graves and spend their nights in secret rituals; they eat the flesh of pigs and pollute their pots with unclean meats. They have the gall to say, “Oooh, not so close! I am holier than you!”